A path-centric account of action-oriented entrepreneurship training

Abstract We develop a path-centric account that explains how action-oriented entrepreneurship training translates into self-employment. The path-centric account suggests that action-oriented entrepreneurship training positively impacts self-employment through entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial action, which form a reciprocal and mutually stabilizing relationship after training. Randomized controlled trials with a baseline ( N = 1156), a short-term ( N = 872), and a 1-year follow-up measurement ( N = 622) supported the hypotheses. The path-centric account describes post-training processes that explain the transfer of action-oriented entrepreneurship training. Furthermore, we address a grand challenge by demonstrating how action-oriented entrepreneurship training can reduce unemployment among young adults in low- and middle-income countries.